Rockies Struggle For Offense in Loss to Mariners

Rockies 2, Mariners 7

These last few spring training recaps are going to be short because we’ve reached the point where the final cuts have been made, and the games still don’t matter. So just a few notable things from today.

The team as a whole managed 5 hits, 2 in the 9th. Not pretty.

We learned earlier today that Eric Young Jr. had made the roster as a utility infielder/outfielder/guy who can’t really field at all but occasionally runs really fast. He responded by going 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts in the lead-off spot. Was he distracted by his success? I don’t know. I keep really wanting to like EY and then just really not being able to.

Dexter Fowler went 1-for-4 today and that’s about the best line he’s put together all spring. His average is still a sub-Mendoza .129. He needs to be solid this year for the Rockies to have a chance. I’m nervous.

Wilin Rosario uncorked a monstrous home run to left field today, and continues to silence naysayers who think he’s not MLB-ready. He leads the team with 4 homers this spring. He made the roster as the backup catcher and my hope is that he’ll get plenty of playing time. His defense is still mildly concerning, but hopefully Ramon Hernandez‘s experience will help him make progress in that area.

Jonathan Herrera also made the team but responded with an 0-for-2 day and an error in the field. He mostly will not be playing shortstop, though, which is where he was today. Troy Tulowitzki is resting his elbow after it was plunked by Ubaldo Jimenez in yesterday’s disaster of a game. (Ubaldo, by the way, faces a 5-game suspension for his crime.) Herrera still brings it at the plate more often than not and I’m glad he’ll be on the bench. Of course, the Rockies have chosen not to activate Jamie Moyer until his start on Saturday, so somebody on the bench will be sent down, and my money’s on Herrera.

Speaking of Moyer, not his best start, and the 4th inning was particularly rough. He allowed 4 singles in a row, and 3 of them scored a run. But then in the 5th he got into another bases-loaded jam and got a strikeout looking to end it. That’s the professionalism and experience we need from him.

Edgmer Escalona, who did not make the final cut, had a tough inning and a third, in which he also loaded the bases. Then he beaned Jesus Montero and another brawl nearly started up. I’ve had my fill of that so I hope tomorrow can be a nice peaceful game with no bad things happening. It was an accident but Montero sure didn’t think so. In any case, look for Escalona to be called up because of injury or incompetence later on in the season.

And thank goodness Matt Reynolds made the team because I was not happy with the rumor that he might not. He didn’t have a perfect outing today but he did come into Escalona’s bases-loaded jam 6th and got a strikeout to finish it. He knows he has something to prove this season.

We’re still talking about Esmil Rogers. He made the team, AND pitched a hitless 8th inning with 2 K’s today. So there’s that. And it looks like the organization is giving him yet another chance to be brilliant, at the expense of Escalona.

The Rockies play the Mariners Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon for their final two games of the spring.

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